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The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), divided into 100 centavos, but the 'tourist' currency is the Peso Convertible (CUC), which replaces the US Dollar as currency in tourist related establishments like hotels, restaurants and so called 'dollar shops'. US Dollars are no longer accepted as payment, and a 10% commission is charged to exchange them, therefore the best currency to bring along is Euros, the British Pound or Canadian Dollars.

No US-issued credit or debit cards will work in ATMs, but those holding other cards issued in other countries should be able to get pesos at most major tourist destinations. Euro or Sterling travellers cheques are accepted at Cuban banks and Bureaux de Change.

Jason.i visited Cuba in May 2008,I used traveller's checks American Express which i bought at a nearby AAA office in town,the exchange is 1 dollar=1 traveller check if you are a member.Now in Cuba at the Banco Financiero Internacional (BFI) =International Financial Bank I was able to trade the traveller's checks into CUC (cuban corrency) and they deducted a 6 % only sometimes the rate is only 3 %.However if you take american dollars they are going to take 20 % of all the money you exchange which is the same as they will take 20 dollars from every 100 dollar bill you trade.Besides the fact that it is safer to use traveller's checks since nobodyelse in the whole world would be able to use them but you, even if you lose them you can have your money back at your return to USA. That's my advise for you,since i was there a few months ago,know my whereabouts there 'cause i'm cuban myself.have a good trip. Eduardo from New Jersey.

hi I am going to Cuba 24th sept 2010 for my son s wedding I am a senior citizen and visit spain a great deali am allergic to mosquito bites i take an anti histimine a week before i fly is it likely i will get bitten in cuba?

also we are there 16 days so into oct will it be very wet or will it be hotthanx Lesley

Went to the post office today for some euro travellers cheques to be told that being AM.EX. they would not be accepted.It was suggested I take cash(!)-which I really don't want to do as I'm there for a month...anyone know of an alternative...or a reliable bodyguard?TC

If you take US dollars you will be charged an extra exchange tax. You can use credit cards in Cuba if there are issued outside of the USA in most hotels and large restaurants and for tours but not likely in smaller towns. Most hotels offer safes to keep your valuables in. When I was in Havana years ago my friend had her purse snatched but we were careless and wandered into an isolated area at dusk.

4 of us went 2 years ago for a 2 week family holiday. I took £500 in pounds sterling and changed it at the hotel desk. It was just right. I didn't bother with my credit card because it was American in origin. If you are in a resort all inclusive there won't be much to buy. We came back with some T-shirts and a couple of carvings. We liked it so much we are going back this month and taking the same amount (only 2 of us this time though).

If from Canada take Canadian dollars, they are welcome everywhere and recognized at the banks and resorts. You can use credit cards of Canadian origin at the banks for cash advances. Never saw a single ATM.
Someone asked about mosquito bites. I lived in a personal residence for a week in Matanzas with the windows wide open 24/7 and never even saw a single mosquito. One day outside of Matanzas we went to a fresh water lake and it was kind of swampy and got bitten a lot. Never been bitten in either Varadero or Matanzas.